A customs union is not a sustainable answer for Brexit Britain

She said: "Maybe the minister is troubled that we might actually have asked him if he learned anything and how he plans to stop a hard border here when his Government continues to dig its heels in on the customs union".

The defeats also came not long after downing street were playing down claims over a split within the government over the customs union.

'It is now up to the United Kingdom to come up with its vision for the future, which should confirm the UK's red lines or adapt them, ' he said.

Mrs May, who has made leaving the customs union central to her Brexit plans, said being a member would leave Britain unable to negotiate crucial free trade deals with the rest of the world.

Speaking at the Hannover Messe event in Hanover, Germany - which is one of the largest trade fairs in the world for industrial technology - Barnier sought to reassure attendees that the single market would not significantly suffer from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, and emphasise that the European Union and the United Kingdom are both seeking the least disruptive Brexit process possible.

In both instances, it seems unlikely that these last-minute offers are enough to avoid defeats for the government - but stay with our coverage of the bill on Wednesday to find out.The EU Withdrawal Bill returns to the Lords on Wednesday for a third day of report stage debate, which is when all the voting action happens.

"You can't be in the customs union and have your own free trade deals".

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator has told businesses to prepare for the possibility of the United Kingdom exiting the bloc without a transition period amid a stalemate over the Irish border issue.

'In particular, the four freedoms of the single market go together.

Brexit Secretary David Davis suggested the thorny question of how to avoid a hard border with Ireland might still not be resolved when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union next March.

"Those are still the two options we are moving forward with". May's inner circle thinks she could be forced to accept staying in the customs union, as Parliament gears up for a vote on the issue as soon as next month.

He added: "So I say that the effect of what they're saying would be the annexation of Northern Ireland".

Though the looming Commons vote on a pro-customs union motion would be a symbolic, non-binding one, it has the potential to deepen Tory wounds on Brexit.

"We face great challenges and unprecedented change, and therefore I would argue that we need more certainty, more reassurance, not less".